Floating ring loose-leaf binder



Sept. 14, 196 E. c. RANKIN 3,25%:

FLOATING RING LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Original Filed May 8, 1957 2Sheets-Sheet l 4'6 INVENTOR.

fdgrd CY dil B 1 Sept. 14, 1965 E. c. RANKlN FLOATING RING LC'QSE-LEAF313mm Original Filed May 8, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG, 5

INVENTOR.

Edward L? fan/e212 United States Patent Claims. or. 12a-17 Thisapplication is a continuation of Serial No. 657,812, filed May 8, 1957,now abandoned.

This invention pertains to loose-leaf binders of the pivoted ring andprong type, and has as its principal object the provision of an improvedprong or ring or stringer mechanism which is characterized forconvenience as a floating ring structure by reason of the fact that eachring is of a peculiar reentrant U-shape consisting of a radial foot, achordlike leg, and an arcuate prong or stringer, said floating ringsbeing preferably used in pairs pivoted .on a single, central pintle rodthrough the radial portions with the result that excellent andsubstantially permanent radial alignment or concentricity of the prongsis achieved.

A further object is the construction of a binder mechanism employing afloating ring structure, as aforesaid, in conjunction with a cooperativeclamp-plate assembly which is yieldingly attached to the cover structureand which rigidifies the binding prongs as well as the backbone of thebinder.

Yet another object is the provision of certain cantileverlike extensionson some of the floating rings for resisting certain destructivestresses, together with manual latch means cooperable with the aforesaidcantilever extensions for controlling the opening range of the bindingprongs.

Still another object is the provision of an integrallyformed bindingring structure which eliminates certain inaccurate and troublesomestaking and swedging operations heretofore commonly required in priorring structur-es wherein the prongs or rings were sought to be rigidlyattached to some form of carrier or support which in turn was hingedlymounted in a set of covers.

A still further object is the provision of a one-piece binding ring ofincreased capacity and stability which can be manufactured byinexpensive stamping operations and which combines in one element thebinding stringer or prong and a radial portion adapted to engage asingle hinge pintle.

Additional objects and aspects of novelty and utility relate to detailsof the construction and operation of the embodiments hereinafterdescribed in view of the annexed drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a lateral section through a closed binder showing portions ofa pair of floating rings in elevation;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 with the binder prongs open;

FIG. 2A is an elevational detail of one of the floating ring structures;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through a binder lookingdown upon a pair of floating rings (prongs) and latch means therefor,shown partly in elevation and partly in section;

FIG. 4 is an endwise, fragmentary elevation of the binder and a latchplate therefor;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a modified floating ring and latchmeans;

FIG. 6 is a perspective detail of the latch bar of the modified latchmeans of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary exploded perspective detail of the clamp-platerigidifying means;

FIG. 8 is an operating detail of the modified latch bar structure withthe floating rings fully open;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to that of FIG. 7 but showing the ringspartially closed;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to that of FIG. 8 but showing the rings fullyclosed;

FIGS. 11 and 12 are elevational details of modified floating ringelements.

The binder depicted in FIG. 1 consists of a pair of covers 12 havingmultiple hinge connections with each other through a hinged backbonegenerally indicated at 13, the latter comprising two angular portions13A and 13B hingedly joined by a median hinge 13X (usually the covercloth) with each of the covers 12 hingedly joined to its respectivebackbone wing, as at 12X.

In FIG. 2 the binder is shown with the rings 14 in open condition toreceive or release pages 15, the construction of one of the individualfloating ring structures 14 being detailed in FIG. 2A from which it isseen that each socalled ring or stringer is somewhat U-shaped andconsists of an arc 14A from one end of which projects an offset leg 14Bin the manner of chord or half-chord of the circle of said arc, therebeing finally a diametricallyextending foot or radius portion 14Cprojecting from the leg back toward the center of said are and circle,the terminal region of this foot extension having a pintle hole 1 5Dpienced therethrough.

Floating ring structures of the type shown in FIG. 2A are employed incomplementary sets or pairs and are pivotally conjoined to a commoncentral pintle rod 16, as in FIGS. 2 and 3, there being as many sets ofthese rings along the length of the pintle rod as may be required for agiven size and load of sheets, five sets of rings being not uncommon.

The floating-ring principle as disclosed herein is predicated on thepeculiarly diametrico-chordal offsetting of the arcuate stringer orprong portions plus the use of a single pivotal :axis which iscommon toall rings and is centrally disposed relative thereto, the principleextending further to the combination of such rings and common pivotalaxis with a binder backbone having a central hinge axis closelyparalleling and underlying the common pintle with or without additionalmultiple hinge joints for the backbone or covers.

The floating ring construction makes possible a greater sheet capacitywithout proportionately enlarging the binder assembly, while at the sametime afiording fullopening for reading purposes, and a wide spread ofthe prongs for loading purposes.

The floating hinge axis is not connected to, or based upon, the backbonein the usual sense commonly encountered in ring binders; rather thecovers are connected to the ring assembly (as will presently appear morefully) and only the ring or prong members are joined to the commonpintle in a manner such that they could function for rudimentary bindingpurposes wholly free of the covers.

In order to procure good registry and meeting-alignment between therings of each pair, there is provided a novel rigidifying means whichembraces both the chordal and diametric portions of each ring, saidmeans comprising, as depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3, a top angle plate 20 ofsomewhat irregular S-shaped cross section having a back wall or flange2.1 in which are cut a series of long lateral slots 22 each guarded byturned-out clamping margins or Wings 23 aligned with a short lateralcross notch 24 in the main plate body.

The edge of the clamp plate 20 opposite the large upstanding back flange21 is turned down to provide a much narrower front toe flange 25 havinga width about equal to the lateral width of the diametric foot extension14C of the ring.

A short foot notch 26 (FIG. 7) therein is aligned with the correspondingslots 22 and 24, the aforesaid lateral width of the diametric footprojection fitting snugly into said short notch 26, with the chordal legportions 148 of the ring likewise fitting snugly into the slots 24 and22, it being noted that the wings 23 fit tightly against the sides oflegs 14B and impart great stability and strength to the rings or prongs.

The aforesaid rigidifying means is completed by application of a bottomclamp plate 28 (FIGS. 2 and 7) to underlie the top plate 26 and clamp upagainst the toe flange and against the bottom edges of all diametricring. feet 14C, against all of which the bottom plate is tightly held byrivets 29 (FIGS. 1 and 3).

In some binders light aluminum stock is used for the clamp plates and itis desirable to reinforce the top clamp plate as well as the attachmentsthereof to the backbone of the binder as by backing plates or strips 30(FIGS. 2 and 3) which lie between the back flanges 21 and the backboneangle sections 13A (FIGS. 2 and 3) together with angles 31 (FIGS. 1 and3) which are secured to the backbone by a floating attachment includingrivets 32 backed by over-size resilient (e.g. rubber) washer means 33and working in over-sized holes 34 (FIG. 6) through the back flange Z1,angles 31, and backing plate 30, said rivets being seated blind in thecover backbone. 7 As a result of the last-mentioned floating rivetattachment, stress on both the cover stock and the binding mechanism isrelieved and absorbed by the resilient washers insofar as it istransmitted thereto by the somewhat movable rivets, this being a furtherfeature of the floating construction.

In the construction of FIG. 2, the feet or diametric extensions 14C ofthe rings are stub-ended as at ME, and at both axial ends of theclamping assembly there are provided a pair of arcuate latching endplates 4-0, as in FIGS. 3 and 4, the innermost ones of which areprovided in each instance with arcuate slots 41 (FIG. 4). which swingover a long latch rod 42 (FIG. 3) passing through all of said plates andhaving at one end a knob 43 for pulling the rod outwardly against aspring 44 to withdraw at least one detent portion 45 from one of thelocking holes 46 (FIG. 4) in inner plate 40 to permit the rings to open,as in FIG. 2, for release or acceptance ofsheets, the shank of the knob43, if desired, being also used as a detent exactly in the manner of thedetent portion 45.

The form of floating ring shown in FIGS. 8 to 12 is a more ruggedconstruction with a modified latch means. As depicted in FIG. 8, it willappear that the basic ring structure as to the stringer arc 14A, leg14B, and foot 14C, is identical to that heretofore described, butinstead of the feet being stub-ended they are provided with upwardlyoffset and outwardly-projecting cantilever latching and stop toes 14F solocated and shaped as to bear down upon their respectively opposite topclamp plates when the binder covers are closed in the manner indicatedin FIG. 10.

This construction affords a good margin of strength against crushingforces tending to press the rings toward each other past the normalposition, as when the covers are slammed closed on a table surface ordropped in use or in shipment. Moreover, the cantilever extensionsprovide a firm closing stop in normal use, as Well as an opening stop inconjunction with the modified latch means now to be described, aprincipal part of which is depicted in FIG. 6 and consists of a longlatch plate 50 having a pair of aligned and pierced ears 51 turned downat its ends and through which a short pivot rod 42 is passed (FIG. 8) toproject through the pierced foot portions 14G (see FIG. 12) of at leasttwo rings situated on the same side of the binder.

One long edge of the latch plate is turned up as at 54 (FIGS. 5 and 6)to form a locking and carnming abutment as well as a trough to bed aspring attachment including a rod 55 having a down-turned end keyed intoa hole 56 in the plate, the rod being held down in place by engagementtherewith of the loop end of a spring 57 passing through another hole 59in the latch plate, the spring at its remaining end being anchored undertension on pintle rod 16 (FIG. 5), whereby the latch plate is normallyurged to thrust its abutment edge 54 in a direction against its owncantilever finger so as to lie along a radial line through the commonpintle rod 16 and the crotch formed between the two opposite cantileverfingers 14F, as shown in FIG. 5, when the covers are opened to theso-called reading position at which the ends of each cooperative pair ofbinding arcs or rings 14A14A (FIG. 5) are almost but not quite openedapart,.so as to permit maximum reading spread without danger of leavesfalling out.

When the binder is opened to full reading position, as aforesaid, theabutment edge 54 of the latch plate will bear against an opposingcantilever toe, as in FIG. 5, and any further opening movement of therings will be blocked.

If it is desired to spread the rings fully apart for loading, as in thecondition of FIG. 8 it is merely necessary to grasp one of the endwisefinger tabs 58 at either end of the latch plate, and raise the latter toclear and permit passage of the blocked cantilever toe, as in FIG. 9.

The latch operates automatically upon closing of the covers by reason ofcamming action between the end of the opposite cantilever finger and theangled abutment portion 54 of the, latch plate, which permits easyreturn of the finger past the latch without necessity of manualintervention, as in opening the latch.

The construction of FIGS. 11 and 12 discloses a form of floating ringespecially adapted to fabrication by stamping from relatively thin stockincluding soft metals such as brass and aluminum.

In the form of FIG. 11 each of the component sections of the integralring structure, including the are or stringer 14AX, the chordal leg14BX, the diametric foot 14CX, and the cantilever toe extension 14FX aremodified in cross section by ribbing or embossing for increasedstrength.

In the form of FIG. 12, only the arcuate stringer or ring 14AZ ismodified in section by collateral embossing which is carried a shortdistance into the leg 14BZ past the junction of the are with the leg.This form is suitable for marginal Weights and hardness of metals likebrass. Thin Weights of ferrous sheet stock will also give satisfactoryservice for reasonable abuse and loading when formed according to eitherFIGS. 11 or 12.

In the manufacture of binders of the class described, it has been thepractice to fabricate the rings, prongs, or stringers separately andattach them to some form of back plate or base by means of staking,swedging, or welding.

The resulting structure, apart from the high cost involved in suchmethods, has been unsatisfactory because it is not possible in massproduction to hold individually staked or swedged prongs to the sameradius. Moreover, usage and abuse will frequently throw such rings outof alignment, in consequence of which meeting and smooth operation ofthe rings is lost and the bound sheets are more readily torn free ormutilated.

The disclosed floating-ring construction is economical to make andassemble and can be employed with other forms of backbone constructionthan the clamp-plate means described.

However, the clamp-plate means 20, 28, 30, and yieldable rivet means 32,is of particular commercial sig nificance in combination with the radialand chordal parts of the new ring, especially in binders of largercapacity, it being understood that a stack of bound sheets, say, threeinches thick, represents a heavy load onthe binder backbone and all ofthe binding mechanism, and the stress to which a three-inch. capacitybinder may be subject, apart from normal usage, is so considerable as topresent serious. problems in designing commercially successful bindersof this class, and cost and space factors additionally complicate theseproblems.

It will be seen that the problem of radial alignment and accuracy, suchas is encountered in using swedged or staked rings, is economically andeffectively solved by the common pintle means disclosed; and that suchmeans, in conjunction with the reentrant radial foot and chordallyoffset leg and integral ring or stringer, makes possible a sheetcapacity which is practically unlimited because the radial alignmentproblem is not affected in this construction by enlargement of size orloading; and in this connection the rings constructed with integrallyextended cross-section, according to FIGS. 11 and 12, are useful evenwhen steel stock is used for larger capacity binders.

Apart from considerations of capacity and strength of materials (theconstruction of FIGS. 11 and 12 permit use of such light materials asaluminum for certain capacities and styles of binder), the disclosedintegral ring structure affords important manufacturing economies makingpossible the fabrication of the stringer or ring portion and the pivotportion in a single piece and by a singleoperation which accuratelyfixes the pivotal center and the angular attitude of the stringer at onetime.

What is claimed:

1. A binding mechanism of the pivoted arcuate-prong class comprisingone-piece prongs of wholly fiat stock arranged in cooperating pairs withthe prongs of each pair mounted in substantially touching juxtapositionfor opening and closing pivotal movement relative to each other about acommon axis, said prongs being each independently formed and mounted asaforesaid and each consisting of a foot member extending oppositely fromthe foot member of the other prong of its pair from said common axiswhen the prongs of the pair are in a normally closed condition, eachsaid foot member having a chordally-projecting leg extended at rightangles therefrom and from which extends an arcuate binding prong the arcof which is substantially concentric with said axis, together with meansproviding a common pintle pivotally engaging the prongs of said pairs inthe manner aforesaid at a point in the foot thereof concentric with saidare, said mechanism including at least two sets of said pairs located atspaced positions along said pintle for pivotal movement of the prongs asaforesaid concentrically of said axis, together with clamp-plate meansrespectively disposed on opposite sides of said pintle and respectivelyclamping in a corresponding group chordal leg and foot portions of allof those binding prongs which lie on the appertaining side of the axisso that the clamp plate means for each group of prongs is movabletherewith in the pivotal opening and closing operations thereof.

2. A construction according to claim 1, further characterized by theprovision of a binder cover including a backbone having a central hingedividing same into two relatively movable wings and each wing having acover hjngedly joined thereto with all hinge axes parallel, said bindingmechanisms being mounted in said binder with its common pivotal axisabove and parallel to the central hinge axis of the binder cover, andthe clampplate means of the respective said groups each being assembledwith one of said wings, and secured by attaching means thereto formovement therewith responsive to hinging movement of said wings relativeto each other.

3. A construction according to claim 2 in which said attaching meanscomprises loosely-fitted rivet means interconnecting each clamp-platemeans with its appertaining backbone wing portion to permit limitedrelative self adjusting movement between the clamp-plate means and theappertaining wing to relieve certain internal stresses arising inconnection with opening and closing movements of the binder coversincluding particularly the relative hinging action of said wings.

4. A construction according to claim 1 in which the respective footmembers of one or more pairs of said binding members are each providedwith a cantilever extension projecting to overlie and bear upon theclamp plate means located on the respectively opposite sides of saidpintle in closed condition of said binding members in each instance, andto limit the movement of the binding members in closing direction andrelieve stresses from forces acting in like direction.

5. A construction according to claim 4, further characterized by theprovision of releasable latch means having pivotal support on at leastone of the cantilever extensions and spring means acting on said latchmeans and urging the latter into blocking relation with the oppositecantilever extension in a certain partly-opened condition of saidbinding members to prevent full opening thereof, said latch means beingmovable out of said blocking relation to permit full opening of saidbinding members.

6. In a loose-leaf binding, a floating ring structure comprising atleast one pair of flat-stock sheet stringers of the ring type each pairconsisting of two complementary stringer arcs each having at one end afiat leg depending therefrom substantially in the sense of a chord ofthe circle of said arc, and each said leg having projecting normallyfrom its end remote from that joining the are a straight, flat radiusmember constituting a foot extending into the center for said arc, andpivot-axis means commonly joining in substantially touching sideby-siderelation those portions of the foot of each stringer which areconcentric with said center, whereby the arcs are pivotable into and outof open and closed binding relation relative to each other, togetherwith means for rigidifying said ring structure and comprising rigidplate members secured together in pairs on opposite sides of said Pivotaxis to clamp upon the respectively corresponding foot portions of eachring structure lying on the appertaining side of said pivot axis.

7. A construction according to claim 6 further characterized by theprovision of stabilizing notches in certain of said plate members intowhich certain portions of the leg and foot portions of each appertainingring structure are fitted in the clamped condition aforesaid.

8. In a loose-leaf binding mechanism of the class having pairs ofdivergently and convergently movable binding prongs pivoting about acentral hinge axis, improvements characterized, namely: in that eachprong of each pair is formed flat in one piece with three limbs one ofwhich is a fiat arcuate binding prong; and the second of which is afiat, straight leg depending from one end of the prong at an angle inthe sense of a chord of its --arc; and the third limb of which is aflat, long foot extending back at right angles from the end of said legremote from its attachment to the prong so as to underlie the arc of theprong in a diametric sense such that all parts of each prong arecontinuously fiat in a coplanar sense, said prongs being mounted inpairs side-by-side in touching proximity on a common pivot rodtraversing the respective foot portions thereof near the ends of thelatter remote from said legs, and at positions which are concentric withtheir respective prong arcs; and separate plate means c-onjoining theprongs lying on opposite sides of said rod and having slottedinterfitting gripping engagement with the leg and foot portions of eachconjoined prong such that the conjoined prongs and appertaining platemeans are joined in a floating operative assembly solely by said commonpivot rod.

9. In a loose-leaf binding mechanism, a binding ring structure includingindependently-formed ring-defining sheet stringers made flat on oppositesides in a continuously integral, thin, coplanar configuration so as tobe mutually reversible for complementary mounting in pairs on a commonpivot rod in side-'by-side touching contiguity to pivot toward and awayfrom each other in ring-closing and opening action, each stringer havingflat prong, leg, and foot conformations all contained between twoclosely parallel bounding planes defining their thinness and flatness,the conformations aforesaid comprising a fiat prong arc integrallymerging at one end thereof into the correspondingly fiat coplanarportion of one end of said leg formation so that the leg depends fromthe arc in the manner of a chordal intercept therewith, said leg mergingintegrally into an angular prolongation which is flat coplanarlytherewith and extends from an opposite end thereof and constitutes apivot foot extending back below the prong a distance at least throughthe center for the arc thereof, such that said are is raised above thefoot concentrically of said center; a pivot rod traversing theconcentric portions of the pivot foot of each prong in all pairs, amajor portion of one prong in each pair projecting laterally from thepivot rod on a side of the latter away from the side thereof from whichthe like major portions of its companion prong projects on the otherside of said rod, and rigid connecting means having form independentlyof the prongs and rod and each respectively disposed on one of saidlast-mentioned sides of the pivot rod and respectively engaging portionsof each of the prongs lying on the corresponding side of the rodtherewith to secure such prongs in fixed assembly for joint pivotaltravel in predetermined angular paths respectively contiguous to thelike paths of travel of their paired companion prongs which aresimilarly fixed in assembly by the like rigid connecting means disposedas aforesaid on the other side of the pivot rod therefrom, the foot ofat least one prong having a cantilever stopping toe projecting laterallybeyond the far side of the pivot rod therefrom in a direction away fromsuch foot and said center a distance to abut a portion of the rigidconnecting means for the other assemblage of companion prongs on saidfar side of the rod therefrom whereby to limit the travel of eitherassemblage of prongs toward the other at a predetermined position in theprong-closing direction of travel thereof.

10. In a loose-leaf binding mechanism, a binding ring structureincluding independently-formed ring-defining sheet stringers made flaton opposite sides in a continuously integral, thin, coplanarconfiguration so as to be mutually reversible for complementary mountingin pairs on a common pivot rod in side-by-side touching contiguity topivot toward and away from each other in ring-closing and openingaction, each stringer having flat prong, leg, and foot conformations allcontained between two closely parallel bounding planes defining theirthinness and flatness, the conformations aforesaid comprising a fiatprong arc integrally merging at one end thereof into the correspondinglyfiat coplanar portion of one end of said leg formation so that the legdepends from the arc in the manner of a chordal intercept therewith,said leg merging integrally into an angular prolongation which is flatcoplanarly therewith and extends from an opposite end thereof andconstitutes a pivot foot extending back below the prong a distance atleast through the center for the arc thereof, such that said are israised above the foot concentrically of said center; a pivot rodtraversing the concentric portions of the pivot foot of each prong inall pairs, a major portion of one prong in each pair projectinglaterally from the pivot rod on a side of the latter away from the sidethereof from which the vlike major portions of its companion prongprojects on the other side of said rod, and rigid connecting meanshaving form independently of the prongs and rod and each respectivelydisposed on one of said last-mentioned sides of the pivot rod andrespectively engaging portions of each of the prongs lying on thecorresponding side of the rod therewith to secure such prongs in fixedassembly for joint pivotal travel in predetermined angular pathsrespectively contiguous to the like paths of travel of their pairedcompanion prongs which are similarly fixed in assembly by the like rigidconnecting means disposed as aforesaid on the other side of the pivotrod therefrom, the foot of at least two prongs on each side of the pivotrod and the two corresponding companion prongs of pairs which arelocated and respectively belong to pairs which are located at axiallyspaced-apart positions along the rod, being provided with a toeprojection extending over and beyond the rod in crossed relation withthe like toe projections of their respective companion prongs when thelatter are in a predetermined position of the prongs in the direction ofring-opening movement thereof but not the open condition thereof, andlatch means respectively having support on each of the two toeprojections of prongs lying on the same side of the rod, and cooperatinglatch means likewise having support on each of the two toe projectionsof the two companion prongs lying on the other side of the rod, saidlatch means on the respective sides of the rod being releasablyinterengageable to limit opening movement of the prongs to saidpredetermined position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 643,380 2/00Kendig et al. 129-17 736,338 8/03 Akass 129-17 796,759 8/05 Phillips etal l2424 1,222,058 4/17 Whitlock 129-17. 1,228,860 6/17 Whitlock 129-171,795,047 3/17 Schade 129-17 2,528,866 11/60 Dawson 129-17 FOREIGNPATENTS 830,009 5/38 France.

WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner.

LAWRENCE CHARLES, NORTON ANSHER,

JEROME SCHNALL, Examiners.

6. IN A LOOSE-LEAF BINDING, A FLOATING RING STRUCTURE COMPRISING ATLEAST ONE PAIR OF FLAT-STOCK SHEET STRINGERS OF THE RING TYPE EACH PAIRCONSISTING OF TWO COMPLEMENTARY STRINGER ARCS EACH HAVING AT ONE END AFLAT LEG DEPENDING THEREFROM SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE SENSE OF A CHORD OFTHE CIRCLE OF SAID ARC, AND EACH SAID LEG HAVING PROJECTING NORMALLYFROM ITS END REMOTE FROM THAT JOINING THE ARC A STRAIGHT, FLAT RADIUSMEMBER CONSTITUTING A FOOT EXTENDING INTO THE CENTER FOR SAID ARC, ANDPIVOT-AXIS MEANS COMMONLY JOINING IN SUBSTANTIALLY TOUCHING SIDEBY-SIDERELATION THOSE PORTIONS OF THE FOOT OF EACH STRINGER WHICH ARECONCENTRIC WITH SAID CENTER, WHEREBY THE ARCS ARE PIVOTABLE INTO AND OUTOF OPEN AND CLOSED BINDING RELATION RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER, TOGETHERWITH MEANS FOR RIGIDIFYING SAID RING STRUCTURE AND COMPRISING RIGIDPLATE MEMBERS SECURED TOGETHER IN PAIRS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID PIVOTAXIS TO CLAMP UPON THE RESPECTIVELY CORRESPONDING FOOT PORTIONS OF EACHRING STRUCTURE LYING ON THE APPERTAINING SIDE OF SAID PIVOT AXIS.